Hub-cap.



No. 826,320. PATENTED JULY 17,- 1906. E. EINFBLDT. HUB GAP. APPLICATION FILED 00130, 1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EMIL EINFELDT, OF DAVENPORT, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO BETTENDORF METAL WHEEL COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF IOWA.

HUB-CAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 17, 1906.

1'0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMIL EINFELDT, of Davenport, county of Scott, and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Hub-Caps, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple, effective, and inexpensive construction for fastening hub-caps detachably to the hubs for the purpose of excluding dust or sand to the bearing parts and preventing the escape of grease therefrom.

In the use of hub-caps the constant jarring and rattling to which they are subjected renders it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to prevent the parts from working loose and the cap from escaping.

In order to avoid this objection, I form the hub with a lateral projection and provide a movable locking member, preferably in the form of a pin, which is sustained by the hubcap and is adapted to be engaged with the projection on the hub in such manner as to hold the cap securely but removably in place.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hub having a cap applied thereto and embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the end of the hub, showing the form of the projecting lug. Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of a modification of my invention. Fig. 6 is a similar view of still another modification.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a hub, in the present instance consisting of a tubular metallic shell 2, provided with the usual internal bearing-box.

4 represents a cap of a size and form to fit over the outerend of the shell, so as to exclude dust and prevent the escape of oil from the bearing parts.

In order to fasten the cap securely but removably in place on the end of the hub, so that it will not be liable to become disengaged, I provide the hub with lateral projections 5 and 6, preferably at diametrically opposite points, these projections being formed 1n the present instance by cutting through the material of the hub-shell so as to leave a lip, which lip is bent outward at right angles and forms a lateral projecting lug. The hubcap is formed, at diametrically opposite points corresponding to the position of the lugs, with sockets 7 and 8 to receive the lugs, which sockets are in the form of swells having side walls 9 and 10 and an end wall 11, the lugs on the hub fitting between the side walls of the swells when the cap is in place, as shown in Fig. 2, and preventing any relative movement of the cap around the hub. These parts are held in the position shown by means of locking members, preferably in the form of cotter-pins 12 and 13, which are passed through openings in the side walls of the swells and extend and engage at the inner side of the lugs, the limbs of the pin being, of course, spread apart-in the usual manner to prevent their escape.

From the construction described it will be seen that there will be no liability of the parts becoming separated or detached from jarring or rattling and that no special tool will be required to fasten the parts together, such as would be the case if screw-bolts or such means were employed for the purpose. The fastening-pin is effectually prevented from Working loose from the cap, and as it extends at the inner side of the lug it acts as a stop to prevent any outward relative movement of the cap, any movement of the cap around the hub being prevented by the en gagement of the lugs in the sockets.

Instead of forming the projecting lugs by separating a lip from the hub material. and bending the same outward, as described, they may be in the form of pins 15, riveted to the hub, as shown in Fig. 5, or, as shown in Fig. 6, the lugs may be threaded into the hub and have their projecting body portions flat and adapted to fit'in the sockets in the cap in such manner that they will be prevented from turning and unscrewing. In a construction of this latter character the bady of the lug may be formed with an opening, as indicated by dotted lines, to receive the fastening-pin, or the latter, as in the first case de scribed, may be extended at the inner side of the lug.

It is manifest to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of my device as regards the form and construction of the projecting lugs, the form and arrangement of the sockets on the cap, and the form and construction of the locking members without departing from the limits of my invention.

I believe myself to be the first to provide the hub with a lateral projection adapted to have engaged with it a movable locking member sustained by the cap and serving when so engaged to hold the cap securely but removably in place on the hub free from any liability of accidental disengagement.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In combination with a wheel hub formed with an axial opening to receive the axle, and provided with. oppositely-disposed laterally-projecting lugs, a hub-cap fitting the outer end. of the hub, and independently-removable locking-pins sustained by the cap and engaging at the inner sides of the lugs.

2. In combination with a hub provided with a lateral projection, a cap applied to the end of the hub and formed to interlock with said projection, and a locking member sustained by the cap and engaging the projection on the hub.

3. In combination with a hub provided with oppositely-disposed lateral projections, a cap adapted to fit over the end of the hub and formed with longitudinally-extending oppositely-disposed radial sockets to receive the projections, and locking pins extending through the sockets and engaging the projections whereby the lateral slip of the hubcap around the hub is revented by the engagement of the walls 0 the sockets with the projections, and the endwise movement of the cap is prevented by the engagement of the pins with the projections.

4. In combination with a hub provided with a lateral projecting lug, a hub-cap adapted to fit the end. of the hub, and formed with a socket having side walls between which the lug extends, and a removable locking-pin extending through the side walls of the socket, and at the inner side of the lug.

5. The combination with a metallic hubshell provided near its outer end with lateral projections consisting of the material of the shell separated therefrom and bent outwardly at right angles in the form of lips, a metallic cap fitting over the outer end of the hub-shell and formed with radial swells constituting sockets to receive the lips, and fastening-pins extending through the walls of the sockets and engaging behind the lips.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand, this 14th day of October, 1905, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

EMIL EINFELDT.

Witnesses M. LOUISE DODGE, LEON ZOECKLER. 

